I did some reading on the use of force, and I believe that George H.W. Bush had the smartest approach to using our military might. He treated power as insurance, not currency. He built coalitions, exhausted diplomacy, and used force only when the political endgame was already secured.

Desert Storm is the proof:

The force was overwhelming
Objectives were limited
Exit was clear
Coalition legitimacy was locked in first

Whether you agree with what he did or not, the result was a decisive victory without long-term occupation or regional blowback. That’s very rare. 

I think force is more effective tactically, but restraint is more effective strategically. Last-resort leaders optimize for stability tomorrow.

We can learn from history (or not) that empires fall not because they lack power but because they overuse it.